Questions regarding SUNY Downstate Accelerated Nursing Program

[cupcake8503]

I apologize if these questions have been answered. There are a lot of posts to go through to find answers! I am currently a Clinical Lab Technologist that holds a BS in Chemistry from Howard University. I will finish my MS in Forensic Science from Pace University in the Fall. Unfortunately, instead of following my heart and doing Nurising, I did what I thought was best at the time. I am considering applying for the accelerated Nursing program at Downstate and had a few questions:

1. Is it possible to work while completing the program? Of course I have to eat, live and pay bills (I am the only person that provides for myself financially and NYC is not cheap to live in). If working is not possible, does the student loans cover living expenses?

2. Does the program only start during the summer, or do they have a Fall admittance? (I have a few pre-reqs to complete that probably wont be done until Summer 2010--I plan to take them at a CUNY school)

Thanks for your help. I know its crazy for me to make a career change after completing a Master's but better late than never!

[Tanguera, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

Where would I have gone if I had to do it all over again? I thought about that often, especially during my first semester here since we started in the summer and I actually was making arrangements to transfer out so I could attend another school that started in the Fall. I was told by some schools that I could still send in my deposit (as I had been admitted in the spring) because their classes still had space.

Unlike you, I was looking at schools outside of New York City. So many of my other schools would have been far, expensive, and would have been BSN/MSN programs.

In NYC, I only applied to Columbia, NYU, and Downstate. I got into all of them but I was convinced that they were all the same quality regardless of name. I have heard and read negative comments about all three schools so I figured that since Downstate would be cheaper, I would just attend school here. I wasn't convinced that the education at Columbia or NYU would really be worth the ~$60,000 more in tuition. However, I don't even think Downstate is worth the ~$12,500 worth of tuition.

I am not aware of any solid BSN program in the NYC area. The one accelerated BSN program that I thought was terrific was the one at Georgetown. I really was impressed with their program and it's a small class, 60 students or so a year, and they had a 100% NCLEX pass rate on the first try last year.

If you do have to go to Downstate, I would suggest to anyone who is going in, take a pharmacology class and a pathophysiology class before the summer session. That would help A LOT. The first semester has a 6-week pathophysiology course that you can place out of if you took it before. You will NOT have time to really learn all of the material but you will be expected to know all of the material. You will also take a 5-week pharmacology course and it will be very difficult to memorize all of the drugs and learn about them in such a short time.

Let me know if you have any more questions and i'll try to answer them as soon as I can.

[Lola89, LPN, LVN]

Hello everyone!

I am looking to apply for programs beginning in Fall of 2010 and like many of you, I am concerned with the high tuition costs of some of these programs hence my decision to apply to SUNY dowstate. But reading all these negative posts sure makes me think twice!

Tanguera, you mentioned that you go into Columbia and NYU. Would you mind sharing some of your stats with us? Like GRE scores? Would greatly appreciated.

I also considering College of new rochelle and Pace University since moving is not an option for me and I'm looking into accelerated programs as well.

This has been quite a journey, not easy bu any means.

Thank you Tanguera for all your posts.

[tybaby]

Hi eververyone, I too am considering applying to Downstate's accelerated nursing program but am missing two prerequisites as my major didn't require for me to take them. Does anyone know who is either in the program or have applied if they will still accept you into the program without the two prerequisites and allow you to take them while in the program. Should I even bother to apply.

[laughoutloud8]

Hi eververyone, I too am considering applying to Downstate's accelerated nursing program but am missing two prerequisites as my major didn't require for me to take them. Does anyone know who is either in the program or have applied if they will still accept you into the program without the two prerequisites and allow you to take them while in the program. Should I even bother to apply.

This is easy. Take the classes in the spring, I assume chemistry and psychology are the classes you are missing or don't apply.

[tybaby]

I am actually missing statistics and another psychology( I noticed they wanted 6 credits in psy, I only have 3) Did you go through the program with the same issue

[JeanettePNP, MSN, RN, NP]

They will not consider your application unless you have already completed your pre-reqs or are taking them in the upcoming term (and you have to show proof that you are registered). I was accepted with online credits in Statistics and Psychology. Try Empire State College. It's part of the SUNY system so you'll be paying SUNY tuition if you're in state.

[Tanguera, BSN, MSN, RN, NP]

Hello everyone!

I am looking to apply for programs beginning in Fall of 2010 and like many of you, I am concerned with the high tuition costs of some of these programs hence my decision to apply to SUNY dowstate. But reading all these negative posts sure makes me think twice!

Tanguera, you mentioned that you go into Columbia and NYU. Would you mind sharing some of your stats with us? Like GRE scores? Would greatly appreciated.

I also considering College of new rochelle and Pace University since moving is not an option for me and I'm looking into accelerated programs as well.

This has been quite a journey, not easy bu any means.

Thank you Tanguera for all your posts.

Hi Lola89,

So sorry I didn't respond earlier. Getting into Columbia and NYU is not so much a feat. There were statistics online that Columbia's ETP program accepts about 70% of the applicants. At an info session at Columbia, they said they receive about 500-600 applications. I later found out that they received 50% more applications last year. So they may have received 1000 applications, took 700 of those, and according to a friend in the program, this year's incoming class was 203 people which is about 40 or 50 more ppl than the year before it. It seems like many people apply to Columbia, but do not attend because of various factors (money being one of the more common reasons).

I think a lot of ppl worry about stats (grades, GRE scores, volunterwork, etc.) when applying to NYU and Columbia. The funny thing is, it's a lot more competitive to get into Downstate than it is into NYU. A lot of ppl apply to Downstate because it's cheaper. At an info session, they told us that they take about 10% of the applicants. I am assuming that since Columbia got 50% more applications last year, I will be Downstate got a significantly larger applicant pool as well. So it's possible they acceptance rate is something more like 8%. There are a lot of ppl who got into Columbia and NYU that did NOT get into Downstate (I read in other posts) but if you get into Downstate, if you applied to Columbia or NYU, you most likely got in.

What is a shame is that Downstate takes a lot of very capable and intelligent people with a lot of potential, but since the program isn't very strong, it feels almost like wasted potential.

[kirham]

WOW Tanguera,

I actually dropped my application for Suny off last week an I am so afraid now. If it wasn't for the cost then I wouldnt even consider it. I did also apply to NYU and am waiting to hear. There are not enough choices in ny for second degree students:smackingf

[laughoutloud8]

WOW Tanguera,

I actually dropped my application for Suny off last week an I am so afraid now. If it wasn't for the cost then I wouldnt even consider it. I did also apply to NYU and am waiting to hear. There are not enough choices in ny for second degree students:smackingf

Def not enough for NYC. I am going to still apply anywhoot. NYU is just to pricey for me. Hell I might as well go to Georgetown in DC. I stay in Tampa, FL so I am trying to schools here that start in the summer UCF and UNF.

[kirham]

I Know. I have no idea how I am going to pay for Nyu but as my mom says, "the first step is getting in the door." I eventually want to be an NP and I just want to get in the door. Hopefully someone will let me in.

[abrown0488]

Hey Tanguera,

U have a ton of insight about the program at Downstate. I had aspirations of applying there until coming onto this site. I am still really interested in the accelerated program and by now I'm sure u've almost completed yours. How's it going for you? Has it gotten any better? Please respond if you have the time.

Thanks so much

[kirham]

Hey did anyone hear from Suny yet? I'm still waiting and they said they just started reviewing applications